Ginger Baker

Blue Note Jazz Festival. If you've seen the staggering 2012 doc Beware of Mr. Baker, you know that legendary Cream, Blind Faith and Fela Kuti drummer Ginger Baker has a serious jazz jones. In the ’90s, he fronted some sharp bands with heavy players such as Ron Miles and Bill Frisell; here—as on an enjoyable new Motéma set, Why?—he marshals a lean quartet featuring saxist Pee Wee Ellis (who has blown alongside James Brown and Van Morrison), Ghanaian percussionist Abass Dodoo and bassist Alec Dankworth.